So I am already grieving for food. Haven't even started the MediTrim and I'm thinking "Wow, I'm really going to miss eating this." I've hit up Sushi, and an Indian restaurant for my fills already. Friday night I'm going out with Sherri for my birthday/last supper. Not really sure where I want to eat though. Maybe Italian... I really don't know.
I dropped off my final payment at the surgical centre today and also picked up my MediTrim. I will be having two shakes and one bar a day. I'm also allowed two cups of non-starchy veggies. I'm thinking I'll probably end up have a cup of sliced cucumber everyday (I love cucumber) and a cup of steamed spinach. Strange but even as a child I've always loved steamed spinach with a bit of vinegar on it so that I will also enjoy. The dietitien okay'd my request to have sugar free jell-o for the two weeks, but no more than 2 cups. I'm hoping that this will help me get past that need to snack on something since the raspberry ones are so strongly flavoured. I picked up some crystal light drink mixes since they're sugar free and also found some sugar free iced tea mix which I will be able to have.
I know already that I am going to be the worlds crankiest bitch for those two weeks so I might have to give my family and co-workers fair warning. 600 calorie per day diet mixed with PMS/period is not a good idea but it's happening anyways.
Went to the Brad Paisley concert with Maria last night, sat in 29 row on the floor. It was absolutely amazing. I'll have to post a few pics once I download them. I even got a picture of myself sporting my new cowgirl hat my father brought back from Nashville for me. It could serve as one of my before photos.
I'm having my family birthday dinner tomorrow since my actual birthday I will be on MediTrim :( I requested BBQ ribs (one of my dad's specialties) and cheesecake... yummm.... My Mom makes a great cheesecake. I have also requested that as of saturday morning (when I start on MediTrim) that all leftovers from this meal are removed from the house so I'm not tempted. I don't care if they have to eat themselves sick or give it to the neighbours I want it gone.
Anyways, I think that's all I have to share for now and my novel for today is long enough.
Lots of Love - Les

So in exactly one week I get to start on MediTrim. That's what they're using instead of optifast, it doesn't have aspartame which is a bonus. I'm allowed to have with that upto 2 cups of non-starchy veggies a day as well as sugar free kool-aid, soda, crystal light, jell-o (max 2 cups of jell-o a day). I know that surviving on a 600 calorie diet for 2 weeks is going to be extremely difficult for me. I can guaruntee that the first day I will be convinced I'm dying. I remember when I did the south beach diet a few years back that cutting out all of the sugar like that sent me for a real spin. I was so dizzy and nauseated all the time that I had to allow myself a piece of fruit every day so I wouldn't pass out. I hope that I'm able to cope with it though and won't have to skip out of work because of it. I don't really have the sick days available for more than my two weeks of recovery.
Heading out tonight for indian food as a "valentines" treat with a few girls and then to a pub after for some live music. Went for my last sushi last night with the guys across the street. It was soooo good and the whole time I just keep thinking that you better enjoy this cause you might never be able to have it again. It is finally sinking in how permanent and drastic this is going to be which is what I need. If I physically cannot eat something or a lot of somthing (4 rolls at sushi) I won't. I'm feeling nervous about the surgery and excited at the same time to start my new life. And also a little relieved that this is happening and that soon I just won't have the option of over eating or eating certain things and then I won't feel guilty after. So this week my eating habits will most likely go right out the window. I'm almost pretending that I will never eat again or something and therefore should go for all of the things I love cause it might be the last time ever.
Lots of Love - Les

Have my first appointment with the Dietitian tomorrow. Not really sure what to expect. I imagine she will go over how I will be eating during the MediSlim weeks... if there is any eating at all. And hopefully some information and tips for post banding. Also have to stop by the bank tomorrow at some point during the day to pick up a draft for my 25% installment that I can give them while there for the appointment. The one thing they had mentioned during my consult was that I would meet with a psychologist but I have yet to hear anything about booking that appointment.
Unfortunately my baby girl (my dog) got sick again the other day after recently (about a month ago) going through this dilemma of not being able to keep food down. I had to feed her rice only for about a week and slowly reintroduce her kibble last time. It so happened that the vet called on Monday to see how she was doing. Is it possible that she's psychic since Summer started getting sick again just the day before? Who knows. She seems to be ok now and I'm going to attribute it to the fact that we were out a lot over the weekend and she was eating a ton of snow and lord knows whatelse.
For those of you looking for a salad recipe the great little cafe across from work serves the greatest one ever. Using lettuce of your choice (romaine or spring mix are ideal), chop up a green apple and throw it in along with some feta cheese, some walnuts, celery, and a little green onion. My dressing of choice is a greek dressing. The girls at work also love it with sun-dried tomatoe or italian dressing. It's delish.
And I leave you today with a picture of my fur baby Summer. Notice her super cute Strawberry Shortcake bandana.
Lots of Love - Les

Apparently a message was left for me on Friday to confirm my appointment with the dietitian today at 4:30... uhmmm what message? They called me at work actually in a bit of a panic because our entire city turned into a skating rink overnight and the roads/walking has been horrendous. Kind of them to be concerned that I had fallen somewhere and couldn't get up or something but not the case. It just happens that my father is not good at taking or giving messages. I told them to call me on my cell from now on and even if I don't answer it goes to my voice mail that I check regularly. So I'm rescheduled in for Wednesday at 4:30. Hopefully driving and such has worked itself out by then.
I ended up over at my friend Sherri's yesterday. She just lives down the street and called me in a bit of a panic and just needed someone there. We spent the afternoon together chatting and playing with her baby girl (she's so cute). A week or two ago I was sure I wasn't going to tell her. But I did, and I'm glad I did she's really excited and happy for me and her one condition was that when I've lost some or all of the weight and want to go shopping for a pair of heels she has to be there. That's easy enough. I also told two girls at work today since what I'm working on right now is mostly for their PhD's or publications I felt that I needed to let them know that I'll be out for a couple weeks so we can plan ahead and get some stuff done and what not. It went good with them too. I was more worried about telling them since they are doing their PhD's in human nutritional sciences I was worried about how they would react. It wasn't fantastically like Sherri but at the same time it wasn't as if they were outright saying that I shouldn't do it and calling me a cheater or lazy or something. So everything looks mostly good.
Lots of Love - Les

Sadly as I expected the bank declined my initial application for a line of credit because my annual income is $2000 less than the minimum. My FA said she's going to forward it and have an actual person look at it rather than just the computerized creditor. So cross your fingers!

Happy Saturday!
The weather has actually been tolerable the last few days (only minus 20 C with the windchill) so I think this afternoon I might venture over to the dog park with Summer (my dogger) so we can both stretch our legs. She has been antsy lately with it being so cold. Whenever I take her out or for a walk she gets all excited to be outside and then realizes its freezing and that it hurts her paws and promptly stops, and lies down on her back so as not to touch the ground with her feet.
I've got an appointment at 3 o'clock with my financial advisor to apply for a line of credit. I really hope I qualify. My income falls just short (by $2000) of what they usually consider the minimum to qualify. I do think that I have really good credit though so keep your fingers crossed. I really need this line of credit so that I can have the surgery. Otherwise its the VISA and the practically illegal interest rate that I'll be using for a portion which I really don't want to do.
I worked up the nerve yesterday to go talk to my boss about the fact that I will be having surgery on March 7 and have been told to take 2 weeks to recover. He's such a nice guy, almost like a second dad. At first I didn't tell him what it was for and he was all concerned and worried about me. So I explained that everything is okay and that it is actually an elective surgery (I told him its the Lap-Band) that I've opted for to improve my overall health. He said to me that my health is the number one priority and to take as long as I need. What a great boss! Now all I've got to do is probably tell a few of the girls at work. There's 3 or 4 of them that I'm really close with and actually consider to be great friends. And since we have lunch together all the time and go out sometimes I think I'm going to have to tell them eventually. Otherwise they might start to think I have an eating disorder. Anyways, that's all for now. I'm going to go curl up on the couch and watch a movie. I'm feeling pretty lazy this morning.
Lots of Love - Les

So how excited am I? Unbelievably excited! I book my surgery today! So the date is set for March 7 unless something should change. The only thing that sucks is I will have to start the dreaded diet the day before my birthday. Oh well, it's for the better right?!? Also, I was originally told that it would be OptiFast that I would be choking down for two weeks. They have apparently changed some stuff here and it is now MediSlim. I think that's what it was called. The benefit is supposed to be that it has a higher protein content (therefore keeps you full longer) and an added bonus no aspartame! The no aspartame I'm totally stoked about as I know for a fact that if I have too much of it I end up with a wicked stomach ache. So what's left to do. I need to get my appointments with the dietitien and the psychologist. Both of which I expect to have set up by the end of the week or early next week as she just needs to clarify their schedules. I also have to drop by and give them my 25% down payment.. sob.. so much money gone so easily. I can't think about that though. This isn't about the money. My health and happiness does not have a price associated with it. And that's that.
Lots of Love - Les

I was getting a little impatient so I sent a quick e-mail to the patient advisor over at the surgical center to see if she had any news as to when I might be able to book a date. She got back to me this morning by e-mail and said that she just finalized the Dr.'s schedules yesterday and wanted to when and where would be the best to contact me to set up my appointments. So no actual date booked yet but its encouraging to at least be making some progress.
In completely unrelated to lap band topic. I'm one of those people constantly searching for the perfect skin care routine and beauty products whether they are commercial or homemade concoctions. And have I got a new favorite. In my never ending quest to clear up my complexion and moisturize my skin I discovered the Oil Cleansing Method. Really what it is is using oil to wash you face. Bizarre I know but it works. I'm using a mixture of sweet almond oil with a little castor oil that I massage onto my face for about 5 minutes in the evenings before bed. I then place a hot steamy face cloth over my face (just like at the spa) until it is cooled and wipe off the oil. So the steam opens the pores and since you're using oil (the gunk in your pores is also oil) the oil dissolves all the gook and you can wipe it away. I rinse out the cloth and steam again for a total of 3 steams/wipes. My face is left beautifully moisturized and with clear pores. I'm in love with this! In the mornings all you need to do is wash gently with water and you're good to go. Amazing! So if you're up for it try it out I highly recommend.

Yes the deadly present from mother nature has yet again come rolling around. I've been PMSing pretty bad this month. Not sure why. For example on Friday I went out for Sushi for lunch with a friend.. ate like 2.5 - 3 rolls and was still hungry?!??! Then I ended up going out for indian food last minute with who I consider to be my closest girlfriend. I have also been super dehydrated and just cannot seem to drink enough water.
So while I was out with my girl Sherri I had this little mental issue going on with myself. I was stuck. I kept thinking "Ok now is a good time to tell her" but then she would start talking about her own weight loss stuff and I would back up and do a "maybe not." I did this all night so I think I've decided to just not tell her. She is trying to lose weight as she had her second child about 4 months ago and managed to put on about 50 pounds. She is only about 5 feet tall and would normally only weigh about 100 pounds so I understand why she is doing it but the fact that it is all she talks about now really bothers me. Once I got home I did some thinking about our relationship. It isn't what I want it to be and I don't think it ever will. I have never ever seemed to be able to have close friends. For some reason I just don't entirely "click" with people. Sherri and another friend Amber are as close as I have ever been to any friend and now I think that I would never tell them about the Lap-Band. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I am friends with them... but I am still very different from them and in a very different part of my life then them. Sherri is happily married, 5 years older than me, and has two children 4 and 4 months. Amber is... well Amber is 21 years old and partying as far as life will let her. Her greatest concern is whether or not she has a boyfriend mostly because she loves sex. I love her to death but as far as moral go that girl and I are extremely different. Me being a soon to be 24 year old virgin and her a 21 year old that cannot count on two hands how many sexual partners she has had.
I think what I really need in life now other than claiming my health back through weight loss is to make some new friends. Find a friend that I can share everything with and that I get along with really well.